Rod Wave

Rod Wave
Rod Wave performing in Pittsburgh; 2022
Rod Wave performing in Pittsburgh; 2022
Background information
Birth nameRodarius Marcell Green
Born (1998-08-27) August 27, 1998 (age 26)
Saint Petersburg, Florida, US.
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
DiscographyRod Wave discography
Years active2016–present
Labels
Children2
Websiteofficial-rodwave.com

Rodarius Marcell Green (born August 27, 1998),[1][2] known professionally as Rod Wave, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Signed to Alamo Records, Green is known for his strong voice and incorporation of hip hop and R&B,[3] having been recognized as a pioneer of "soul-trap."[4][5] Green rose to fame with his 2019 single "Heart on Ice," which first went viral on TikTok and peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100.[6] His debut album, Ghetto Gospel (2019) peaked at number ten on the US Billboard 200.[7] His second album, Pray 4 Love (2020) peaked at number two on the chart and included the song "Rags2Riches" (remixed featuring Lil Baby), which peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.[1][8]

His third studio full-length studio album, SoulFly (2021), marked his first album to debut atop the Billboard 200, and spawned the two Billboard Hot 100-top twenty singles "Street Runner" and "Tombstone".[9] His fourth album Beautiful Mind (2022) debuted atop the Billboard 200, marking his second consecutive #1 album on the chart.[10][11] His fifth album, Nostalgia (2023) likewise debuted atop the chart and spent two weeks at the top position while earning Green further critical acclaim for his soulful delivery and lyricism.[12] His success matched that of Taylor Swift as the only artist to debut a new chart-topping solo album within each of the previous three years.[13] All of Green's studio albums have been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and he's the only rapper to have achieved a platinum album each year from 2019 to 2023.[14]

Green has sold 65 million digital copies in the United States, ranking him among the highest certified artists in the United States. He has been nominated for one American Music Award, one Billboard Music Award, and one iHeartRadio Music Award. On May 14, 2024, Sony Music reported a 17% increase in revenue in the fiscal year. Green's Nostalgia was listed among the top-earning projects released through the label.[15] On May 15, Billboard Boxscore reported Green among the top twenty-five grossing hip-hop touring acts of all time at number 21, reporting that Green's tours have grossed over $36 million from thirty-one reported shows.[16]

  1. ^ a b Lamarre, Carl (July 28, 2020). "Why Rod Wave Might Be Writing Movie Scripts One Day". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 18, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference XXL battery was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ McKinney, Jessica (April 3, 2020). "Rod Wave Recorded Alone in Dark Rooms For a Month to Make 'Pray 4 Love'". Complex. Archived from the original on June 5, 2024. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  4. ^ Diep, Eric (April 6, 2020). "Love, Pain & Prayer: How Rod Wave Became Rap's Brightest Street Star". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 5, 2024. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  5. ^ Sacher, Andrew (November 20, 2021). "28 New Rap and R&B Songs Out This Week". Brooklyn Vegan. Archived from the original on December 7, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  6. ^ McKinney, Jessica (March 26, 2020). "12 Songs Blowing Up on TikTok (That Are Actually Worth Listening to)". Complex. Archived from the original on April 13, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  7. ^ "Billboard 200 chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 13, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  8. ^ Trapp, Malcolm (July 3, 2024). "Rod Wave Confirms The Untimely Passing Of Uncle Dee: "I Love [You] So Much"". Rap-Up. Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  9. ^ Caulfield, Keith (April 4, 2021). "Rod Wave Earns First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'SoulFly'". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 6, 2024. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  10. ^ Caulfield, Keith (August 21, 2022). "Rod Wave's 'Beautiful Mind' Bows at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  11. ^ Sisario, Ben (August 22, 2022). "Rod Wave's 'Beautiful Mind' Is His Second No. 1 Album". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on April 4, 2024. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  12. ^ Caulfield, Keith (September 24, 2023). "Rod Wave Scores Third No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 With 'Nostalgia'". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 24, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  13. ^ Sisario, Ben (September 25, 2023). "Rod Wave, Stealth Rap Star, Has a Third No. 1 Album in Three Years". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 28, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  14. ^ "Rod Wave Racks Up 35 New RIAA Certs". Hits. August 22, 2024. Archived from the original on August 22, 2024. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  15. ^ Peoples, Glenn (May 14, 2024). "Sony Music Revenue Up 17% in Fiscal Year, Tops Guidance". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  16. ^ Frankenberg, Eric (May 16, 2024). "These 25 Rappers Are the Top-Grossing Hip-Hop Touring Acts of All Time". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 23, 2024. Retrieved September 22, 2024.